Word Study
reek
CIDE DICTIONARY
reek, n.
A rick. B. Jonson. [1913 Webster]
reek, n. [AS. r; akin to OFries. r, LG. & D. rook, G. rauch, OHG. rouh, Dan. rög, Sw. rök, Icel. reykr, and to AS. re to reek, smoke, Icel. rj, G. riechen to smell.].
Vapor; steam; smoke; fume. [1913 Webster]
"As hateful to me as the reek of a limekiln." [1913 Webster]
reek, v. i. [As. r. See Reek vapor.].
To emit vapor, usually that which is warm and moist; to be full of fumes; to steam; to smoke; to exhale. [1913 Webster]
"Few chimneys reeking you shall espy." [1913 Webster]
"I found me laid
In balmy sweat, which with his beams the sun
Soon dried, and on the reeking moisture fed." [1913 Webster]
In balmy sweat, which with his beams the sun
Soon dried, and on the reeking moisture fed." [1913 Webster]
"The coffee rooms reeked with tobacco." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
reek, v. & n.
--v.intr. (often foll. by of)
1 smell strongly and unpleasantly.
2 have unpleasant or suspicious associations (this reeks of corruption).
3 give off smoke or fumes.
--n.
1 a foul or stale smell.
2 esp. Sc. smoke.
3 vapour; a visible exhalation (esp. from a chimney).
--v.intr. (often foll. by of)
1 smell strongly and unpleasantly.
2 have unpleasant or suspicious associations (this reeks of corruption).
3 give off smoke or fumes.
--n.
1 a foul or stale smell.
2 esp. Sc. smoke.
3 vapour; a visible exhalation (esp. from a chimney).
Derivative
reeky adj.
Etymology
OE reocan (v.), rec (n.), f. Gmc
THESAURUS
reek
BO, aerate, aerify, afterdamp, ash, ashes, atomize, bad breath, bad smell, be aromatic, be redolent of, blackdamp, bleed, blow, body odor, brand, breath, breathe, breathe out, calx, carbon, carbonate, charcoal, chlorinate, chokedamp, cinder, clinker, cloud, coal, coke, coom, damp, discharge, distill, dross, effluvium, effuse, emit, emit a smell, etherify, etherize, evacuate, evaporate, excrete, exfiltrate, exhalation, exhale, exhaust, expire, extravasate, exudate, exude, fetid air, fetidity, fetidness, fetor, filter, filtrate, firedamp, flatus, fluid, fluidize, foul breath, foul odor, fractionate, frowst, fume, fumes, fumigate, funk, gasify, give off, give out, give vent to, graveolence, halitosis, hum, hydrogenate, lava, leach, let out, lixiviate, malaria, malodor, mephitis, miasma, mist, nidor, noxious stench, odor, offend the nostrils, offensive odor, ooze, open the floodgates, open the sluices, oxygenate, percolate, perfume, puff, puff of smoke, reeking, rotten smell, scoria, seep, send out, slag, smell, smell bad, smell of, smell to heaven, smell up, smoke, smudge, smut, soot, spray, steam, stench, stench of decay, stink, stink out, stink up, strain, sublimate, sublime, sullage, throw off, transpire, transude, vapor, vaporize, volatile, volatilize, water vapor, weep, yield an odorROGET THESAURUS
reek
Uncleanness
VB be unclean, become unclean, rot, putrefy, ferment, fester, rankle, reek, stink, mold, molder, go bad, render unclean, dirt, dirty, daub, blot, blur, smudge, smutch, soil, smoke, tarnish, slaver, spot, smear, smirch, begrease, dabble, drabble, draggle, daggle, spatter, slubber, besmear, bemire, beslime, begrime, befoul, splash, stain, distain, maculate, sully, pollute, defile, debase, contaminate, taint, leaven, corrupt, cover with dust, drabble in the mud, roil, wallow in the mire, slobber, slabber.Gaseity
N gaseity, vaporousness, flatulence, flatulency, volatility, aeration, aerification, elastic fluid, gas, air, vapor, ether, steam, essence, fume, reek, effluvium, flatus, cloud, ammonia, ammoniacal gas, volatile alkali, vacuum, partial vacuum, pneumatics, pneumatostatics, aerostatics, aerodynamics, gasmeter, gasometer, air bladder, swimming bladder, sound, (of a fish), gaseous, aeriform, ethereal, aerial, airy, vaporous, volatile, evaporable, flatulent.Vaporization
VB render gaseous, vaporize, volatilize, distill, sublime, evaporate, exhale, smoke, transpire, emit vapor, fume, reek, steam, fumigate, cohobate, finestill, bubble, sparge, effervesce, boil.Water
VB be watery, reek, add water, water, wet, moisten, dilute, dip, immerse, merge, immerge, submerge, plunge, souse, duck, drown, soak, steep, macerate, pickle, wash, sprinkle, lave, bathe, affuse, splash, swash, douse, drench, dabble, slop, slobber, irrigate, inundate, deluge, syringe, inject, gargle.Heat
VB be hot, glow, flush, sweat, swelter, bask, smoke, reek, stew, simmer, seethe, boil, burn, blister, broil, blaze, flame, smolder, parch, fume, pant, heat, recalesce, thaw, give.Odor
VB have an odor, smell, smell of, smell strong of, exhale, give out a smell, reek, reek of, scent, smell, scent, snuff, snuff up, sniff, nose, inhale.For further exploring for "reek" in Webster Dictionary Online
